[Harp-L] chromatic vs diatonic

[PowerBook G4 <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I love both instruments, but I tend to go for the easy way technically  
in order to get to the musical feeling quicker.  This means when it  
comes to folk, blues and country I tend to go with the diatonic and  
for melodies, jazz, classical I go to the chromatic.

One of the big advantages of playing the chromatic in a melodic  
situation is to SAVE TIME in that you don't have to figure out how to  
play the tune - no positions, choice of harps, bends or overblows,  
just play.  I can read down 50 tunes in an afternoon and be working on  
expression right away - this way I can choose which tune sounds the  
best to include in repertoire without spending much time on the tune.   
I also can figure out which tunes might sound better on the diatonic.

Players should learn both just for the fun of it.  Even Stevie, Toots,  
and Galison can play diatonic; Musselwhite, Jellyroll, Singer, Turk,  
Pararozzi, Hoover, DePino all play chromatic.  Lots of people  
crossover and end up wih a choice.

Both are harmonicas!

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
http://www.robertbonfiglio.com